The Billionaire's New Year Gift. Emma Darcy

she reached his side.

      “I seriously doubt that.”

      “I’ve been telling her about you for weeks.” Although her tone was scolding, her blue eyes—the same shade as the tourmalines in his gift—were amused.

      Alex looked down at her. “Not interested, Jules.”

      “Why not? Phoebe’s beautiful and sexy and rich in her own right. Plus she’s my best friend.”

      “For one thing, she’s too young. For another, she’s not my type.”

      “Too young? She’s twenty-five! And how could she not be your type? Most men would die to have Phoebe.”

      Alex wasn’t in the mood to spar or to justify his reasons for not wanting to get involved with the model-like Phoebe. “Aren’t you going to open your present?” he said instead, for Julie still held his gift.

      “Later. I’ll put this on the table with the rest of them.”

      Alex knew his sister was punishing him for not going along with her matchmaking scheme. Or maybe she just wanted to ensure he’d stay at the party for a while.

      “Mom’s probably over there,” Julie said, pointing to the area on the other side of the pool where there were several umbrella-topped tables.

      Alex and Julie headed that way. Sure enough, his mother sat at the nearest table along with Julie’s father and another older couple. At their approach, Terrence touched his wife’s arm, and Lucinda turned around.

      Her face lit up, and she rose. As always, she looked beautiful. Tonight she wore an emerald silk pants outfit with wide legs. Her dark hair was swept up, and sizable diamond studs twinkled in her ears. A small woman with a trim figure, she didn’t look her fifty-eight years and could have easily passed for someone in her early forties.

      As always, Alex felt himself tense as she rushed forward and put her arms around him. Because he was essentially kind and because he did love her, even as he knew he would never be able to trust her, he returned her embrace, saying, “Hello, Mother.”

      “Oh, Alex, it’s so good to see you.” She drew back and looked up into his eyes. “You look wonderful.”

      “You look very nice yourself.” He heard how stiff he sounded and wished he could be more generous toward her. But the habits of a lifetime were hard to break, especially when the underlying reason for his feelings hadn’t changed.

      “Thank you for coming,” she said softly, her dark eyes liquid in the deepening light. Her dimples flashed briefly when she smiled.

      Alex had inherited his height from Harry, but everything else came from his mother: dark hair, dark eyes, dimples. Julie, on the other hand, looked more like her father than like Lucinda, with her blue eyes, five-foot-eight height, and larger bone structure. The only trait of Lucinda’s she bore was the dark, almost black, hair.

      “Come meet our friends, darling,” Lucinda was saying. She took Alex’s hand and led him forward.

      “These are Spencer and Deanna Steele. My son, Alex Hunt.” There was no denying the pride in her voice as she introduced them.

      Alex shook hands with Spencer Steele, a powerful-looking man with gray hair and an enviable physique. He smiled at Deanna Steele, a lovely, cool-looking blonde who had remained seated. He then turned to his stepfather. “Hello, Terrence.”

      “Glad you could make it, Alex,” Terrence said.

      “Alex just met Phoebe,” Julie said, addressing the remark to the Steeles. Turning to Alex, she said, “Spencer and Deanna are Phoebe’s parents.” Her eyes twinkled mischievously.

      Alex decided he would not let his sister get to him. “You have a very beautiful daughter,” he said graciously.

      “Yes,” Deanna said, “we think so.” Her gaze was speculative.

      They made polite conversation for a few more minutes, and all the while Alex was wondering how long he’d have to stand there before he could make his escape.

      “What do you do, Alex?” Spencer Steele asked.

      “I’m the CEO of the Harrison Hunt Foundation.”

      “Really?” Deanna Steele said. “And you like working for the foundation?” There was just the faintest hint of surprise in her tone.

      “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

      She nodded, and he wondered what she was thinking.

      “You don’t have a drink,” Terrence said, saving him from further questions. “C’mon, I’ll show you where the bar is.”

      “I can do that, Daddy,” Julie said.

      “Now, sweetheart, you have other guests to attend to,” Terrence said. “I’ll take care of Alex.”

      Alex realized Terrence wanted to talk to him, so he gave Julie a smile and said, “I’ll be right back.”

      Terrence put his arm around Alex’s shoulder. “We set up the bar in the cabana.”

      Once they were out of earshot of Julie and Lucinda, Terrence said, “I’m going to have to make a trip to Singapore next week, Alex. Be gone about ten days.”

      Terrence was in the import/export business and frequently traveled abroad, especially to the Orient.

      “I was hoping you’d keep an eye on the girls for me.”

      “Oh?” This was a first. “Something I should know?”

      “It’s not a big deal, just…” His voice trailed off.

      By now they’d reached the bar and Alex ordered a vodka and tonic. Terrence waited until he’d got his drink and they’d moved away before saying anything else.

      “Look,” he said, leading Alex toward the back of the cabana where it was relatively quiet and no one else could hear their conversation. “Julie’s been acting funny the past couple of weeks. I’m worried that maybe she’s messing with drugs.”

      Jesus, Alex thought. “Have you said anything to her?”

      Terrence shook his head. “I don’t want to accuse her of something that might not be true.”

      “I’m not afraid to. I’ll talk to her.”

      “It’s not that I’m afraid to,” Terrence protested. “I just…I trust my little girl.”

      Then why the hell are you asking me to keep an eye on her? Alex wondered if Terrence had any idea how contradictory he sounded. “Even sensible people can be led astray by the wrong kinds of friends.”

      “Her friends all come from the best families,” Terrence blustered.

      Alex raised his eyebrows.

      Terrence had the grace to look sheepish. “I know, I know. That doesn’t mean they can’t get into trouble.”

      “No, it doesn’t.” Alex sipped at his drink thoughtfully. It would be hard to keep an eye on Julie now that he was working in Jansen, which wasn’t exactly close to the Queen Anne area where Julie lived with her parents. “I’m in the middle of a big project right now that’s keeping me out of town most of the time, but one way or another, I’ll keep tabs on Julie.”

      Terrence huffed a breath. “Thanks, Alex. I really appreciate that.”

      “I love Julie, too,” Alex pointed out. “And I don’t want her to get into trouble…or hurt herself.”

      “I know.”

      Alex made himself a promise as he and Terrence moved to rejoin the others. He would not only keep tabs on his sister, he would sit her down and talk to her.

      In fact, he’d start tonight.

      P.J.